Frame for motor-vehicles.



F. W. MEAD.

FRAME OOOOOO OR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 1. i9l4. 1,185,230. Patenmd May30,1916 f 4 SHEETS--SHEET I.

F. W. MEAD.

FRAME FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION mao :UN: 1. 1914.

Patented May 30, 1916 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F. W. MEAD.

FRAME FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

'W' Patented May 30,1916.

Pitmted May 30, 191% 4 SHEkYS-aHEEl 4 F W MEAD FRAME FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION LED JuNE I. lsm.

I ain, residilg FREDERICK WILLIAM MEAD, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

FRAME FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

To all 'whom it may concern Be' it known that I, FREDERICKWiLnIaM Mimi), a subject'of the King of Great Britat Rushy Lane, Tyseley, Birmingham, arwickshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Iinprovements in Frames for Motor-Vehicles, of.

Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to frames for motor Vehicles and'has for its object to provide an improved construction possessing a number of advantages over frames of the ordinary types. V

The frame, according to the present invention, provides a suitable platform for the engine, gearing, and bodywork; also an undershield protecting the mechanism, and valances filling the space between the platform parts and the running boards, the Whole beingIconstructed from sheet metal Which does not require pressing in dies. The material is bent to the required shape by means of bending machinery, and all bending is effected along straight lines.

In'the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the front portion of a frame constructed in accordance with this invention with the engine, gear box, springs, and axle attached. Fig. 1a is a perspective view of the rear portion of the frame and the rear axle. Fig. 2 is a plan View of theframe, the front and rear axles, Wheels, etc., 'being shown in dotted lines, and Fig/3 is a side elevation, While Fig. 4 is a cross section 'on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking toward the rear. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the transverse plates, used at the sides of the frame. Fig. 6 is a side view of the same'. Fig. 7 is an end view of the front transverse member, and Fig. 8 an elevation of the rear transverse member.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

The frame consists of a pair of longitudinal `members .A and a pair of transverse members B. The longitudinal members are counterparts of one another and each is roughly of channel shape, as is clear from,

Fig. 4. The bed of the channel, which is inverted, i. e., open downward, consists of a flat strip C Which provides the platform surface for the engine, etc., D. One edge E of the strip Ward at right angles or approximately so Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed .Tune I, 1914. Serial No. 842,22

.O are arrangedclose A is bent vertically down-- Patentea May 30, 1916.

to the platform surface C. This part E forms a deepstifi'ening web.

The other side F of the platform surface C is also bent downward at a suitable angle, say 450 to the horizontal, and its extreme edge G is bent over horizontally, parallel to the platform surface C. This horizontal art G has attached to it the running boards It will be seen that all the lines upon Which bending is effected are straight and the intermediate surfaces are straight so .that each longitudinal member A can` be formed out of a wide strip of sheet metal passed through a bending machine, which is a cheap process of dies or the like are not required.

Siniilarly, the transverse members`B are made out of metal strips bent along straight lines. The ends of the parts E and F of the longitudinal members are shJwn at J and K in Figs. land 1a respectively. These parts are flanged as shown. The transverse members B vare provided with inclined Webs/'L (see Figs. 7 and 8) Which are bolted or riveted to J and K' and the webs L may be formed with a horizontal web as shown at L2 providing a, further attachment surface. The flanges L2 and the rear transveise member B are attached to the running ards H as VWill be clearly seen in Fig's. x1 and la.

When the frame is constructed in this Way a. kind of trough is formed between the longitudinal members, as is best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, and the lower parts ofl the engine, gearing, etc., lie in this trough. The rear transverse member is slotted at M for the passage of the propeller shaft N or the equivalent, and the platform parts C of the longitudinals may project beyond the trans- Verse members B body.

In the construction illustrated the front traiisvei'se member B is arranged at the end of the longitudinal members A and the radiator inay be inounted on the top of the transverse member. In such a case plates to the engine which plates are attached to the running boards and to fianges P formed on the valances F. The plates O pass right across they channel formed by each invefted longitudinal member, as is seen iii Fig. 2, and the end of each is flanged at 02 and attached to the vertical beveled off, as.

the fianges atV to carry the radiator or.

manufacture, as special aaV part E of the longitudinal member. Each plate is'slotted as shown at O3 for the pas- 'Sage of the front springs R and holes are also provided in the rear transverse member for the passage of-Kthermear springs S as is shown clearlyb in aig. 19'. The springs are preferably of"the kind which are attached to the aXle atv one end, and to the frameeat one or two points.

The object of inclining the transverse parts 0 and L is that these may, if desired. lie flush with the lower parts of the mudguards T` surrounding the Wheels. v' The transverse` parts O and L extend to the edges of the running boards and they'may lie tangentially to the mudguards, theguards being attached to the transverse parts. In most cases it is these projecting parts which are perforated for the passage of the main springs, particularly in the case of the rear springs S.

The trough formed between the longitudinal members A may be inclosed underneath by plates U. There are preferably two of such plates, and either or both may be detachable so as to form a removable undershield.

It Will be gathered that the complete.`

frame is very stifl` and can consequently be extremely light 'in spite of the fact that the cost of production is low owing to the cheap process of manufacture.

The parts F, which form the valances. may be either flat, as shown, or may be curved transversely.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.` A frame for a motor vehicle comprising longitudinal members each of which is bent to channel shape along 'straight lines and comprising a flat portion or strip adapted'to support the engine and body, a

deep stifi'ening portion or.web extending.

downwardly at a right angle to said flat supporting strip, and a portion extending diagonally downward from said flat support-f ing strip. V

2. A frame for a motor vehicle comprising longitudinal members each of which is bent Vto channel shape along straightl lines and comprising a flat portion'or strip adapted to support the engine and body, a deep stiffening portion or Web extending downwardly at a right angle to said flat supporting strip, and a portionextending diagonally downward from said flat supporting strip, the lower edge of said diagonally extending portion being bent horizontally parallel to the said flat strip for attachment y of a running board.

3. In a frame for a motor vehicle, the combination with longitudinal -members each of which is bent to channel shape along straight lines and comprising a flat iIportion' or strip adapted to support the engine and Vlongitudinal.

tending downwardly at a right angle toV said flat supporting strip, and a portion extending diagon'ally downward fromsaid flat supporting strip, the ends of thesaid vertical stilfenlng portion and diag'oi'iii'l, orltion being beveled off and bentyto' flanges, of tranversemembei's each of-fwbich is bent to formy an inclined web Which 1s bolted to the said llanges at the ends of each l'ongitudinal member.

4. In ia frame for a motor vehicle, the combination with longitudinal members each of which is bent to channel shape along' straight lines and comprising a flat portion or strip adapted to support the engine and body, a deep stiffening portion or web extending downwardly at a rigl'it angle to said flat supporting strip, and a portion extending diagonally downward from said flat supporting strip, the ends of the said vertical still'ening portion and diagonal portion being beveled off and bent to form flanges, of transvers'e members, each of Which is bent to form an inclined web which is bolted to the said flanges at the ends of each langitudinal member, plates extending trahsver'ely across the channels formedby the lengitudinal members, each plate being flanged at one end and attached to'the vertical stilfening rib of the correspondinV longitudinal member, each plate being s ttcd for the passage of a spring, substantmll as set forth.

5. In a frame for a motor vehicle, the combination with longitudinal members each of which is bent to channel shape along straight lines and comprising a flat portion' or strip adapted to support the engine and body, a deep stifi'ening portion or Web extending downwardly at a right angle to said flat supporting, strip, and a portion extending diagonally ldownward from said flat supportingstrip, the ends of the said vertica stiffening portion and diagonal portion being beveled-off and bent to form flanges,

' of transverse members each of which is bent to form an inclined Web which is bolted to the said flanges at .the ends of each'longitudinal member, plates extending transver'sely across. the channels formed by the 'members leach plate being flanged at one end and attached to the vertical stifl'ening rib of the corresponding 'longitudinal member, each plat'e being' slotted for the passage of a spring, and running boards attached to the said plates and also to the horizontal flanges on the inclinedwebs of the transverse members.

6.'In a frame for a niotor vehicle, the

combination of longitudinal members bent .to channel shape along straight lines 'andcomprising a'- flat stilfening portion wardly at a right portion or strip, a deep or web extending downangle to said flat strip.

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